RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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It's been another death-filled episode on House of the Dragon , with Season 3 so far doing a sterling job of upping the body count .
And speaking of body counts, how many men does moody Ser Criston Cole (Fabien Frankel) manage to single-handedly chop his way through in episode 6's opening sequence, before he's eventually slain by three arrows?
We rewatched the sequence and counted to see whether or not he really was "the realm's greatest warrior," as he professed to Ser Gwayne Hightower (Freddie Fox) in episode 5 .
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What happens to Ser Criston Cole in House of the Dragon Season 3, episode 6?
First, a quick recap. After being in full emo mode for the entirety of the season so far, Cole finally reveals his plan to Ser Gwayne at the end of episode 5.
"Our fate was always assured, Ser Gwayne," says Cole. "When we set out we were doomed to death, and defeat."
Ser Gwayne tries to protest, repeating his offer of service to House Hightower. But Cole is having none of it.
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"You have offered me service to your house," says Cole. "And I am grateful. But I've been a servant my whole life. To green or to black. I have defined myself by oaths. Through unyielding devotion. And the highborn have made much of me while it pleased them to do so. But I will not let them diminish me now. I will not return spurned, rejected. I am the realm's greatest warrior and I will die as such. Clear-eyed. Unbent. Glorious in battle. And not in their service. Finally. But in my own. And they will sing songs of it. And Queen Alicent herself will hear them."
It's a memorable speech, but how does Cole's vision of his own demise compare to the reality he faces one episode later?
How many men does Ser Criston Cole kill before dying?
One thing you can't deny when watching episode 6's opening sequence is that Cole clearly is a great warrior.
After he's ambushed by Oscar Tully's (Archie Barnes') troops he manages to single-handedly kill at least 10 men in under two minutes of fighting, while injuring multiple others .
Finally, after being surrounded and called out by Tully and Roddy the Ruin (Tommy Flanagan), Cole offers to fight both of them himself. Based on his performance in the preceding minutes it's a fight he'd likely win, but we never get to see it: Cole is instead shot dead by an archer, collapsing on the battlefield before his surviving men are swarmed.
So, does he die in the way he predicted one episode previously? Essentially, yes. He may have been one of the show's most hated characters, but the former Hand certainly goes out swinging.
House of the Dragon Season 3 is now streaming on HBO Max, with new episodes premiering Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.
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